byrne



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No ModQL) s. H. BYRNB. MACHINERY POR THB MANUEAGTURB 0F WIRE.

Patented June 9, 1885.

imi

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.'

(N0 ModeL) Patented June 9, 1885.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

s. H. BYRNE. l MACHINERY POR THE MANUPAGTURE OP WIRE. No. 319,555. Patentedmm 9, 1885.

NA PETERS. PhoiwLltbngrnphnr, Wnshngon, D. C.

NITED STATES PATENT CEEicE.

MACHINERY FOR THE NlANUFACTURE OF WIRE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 319,556, dated June 9, 1885.

Application filed February 23, 1884. (No model.) Patented in England January 5, 1884, No. 818; in France February 23, 1884, No,

160,516; in Belgium February 23, 1884, No. 64,252, and in Germany February 29, 1884, No. 29,713.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, SAMUEL HENRY BYENE, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Brighouse, in the county of York, England, wire manufacturer, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Manufacture of Wire, (for which I have secured Letters Patent in Great Britain, No. 818, dated January 5,1884; in France, No. 160,516, dated February 23,1884; in Belgium, No. 64,252, dated February 23, 1884, and in Germany, No. 29,713, dated February 29, 1884,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of wire, in which one or a series of rotating dies may b e employed. In the device I have illustrated I employ for this purpose a machine in which the wire is drawn successively, but at one continuous operation, through a series of rotating dies. Heretofore, to some extent, in drawing stout wire or wire of the lower numbers, a series of stationary dies of successively decreasing dimensions and a series of drawing-rollers rotating` at successively increasing speeds have been employed. My invention is directed especially to the production of fine wire at one operation by drawing through a series of ro tating dies of successively decreasing dimensions, the series of drawing-rolls being rotated at successively increasing speeds, and provision being made for varying the speed of rotation of the respective drawing-rolls independently of each other.

In accordance with my invention, as illustrated, I provide aframe in which is mounted a series of horizontal and parallel axes which carry double-flanged rollers of earthenware. These axes are driven, by means hereinafter described, at progressively higher and higher speeds in passing from one end of the machine to the other. In front of each roller there is set a die with a jeweled hole. In preference I form the hole in a hard mineral known as carbonate77 but other dies, either mineral or metallic, may be employed. The die in each case is set in a holder upon which spur-teeth are formed, and this holder is carried in a bearing on the frame in such a manner that it can be caused to rotate. All the die-holders are turned simultaneously by means of pinions on a horizontal shaft to which a slow movement is imparted. The wire which has to be drawn from a lower to a higher number is unwound from a rcel at one end of the machine, whence it is led through the jeweled hole in the first die of the serios, and this is of a size suitable to produce the first reduction in the diameter of the wire. Having passed through this die the wire is wrapped, say twice, around the first of the series of earthenware rollers, and it is the rotation of this roller which draws the Wire forward through the die. rlrhe wire then passes similarly through the jeweled hole in the second of the series of dies, and this produces a further reduction in the diameter ofthe wire. Next the wire passes twice around the second ofthe earthenware rollers, and this revolves faster than the first just in the proportion necessary to carry forward the greater length resulting from the extension of the wire in the first die. Similarly, the wire passes on to the farther end of the machine, alternately through a die and around a roller. I can construct the machine to work in this manner with eight, ten, or more dies, the number of dies being dependent on the extent to which the material will bear extension with'- out annealing. After each passage of the wire through a die, it its oiled by means of a cotton wick, which rests against the wire and dips into a vessel containing oil. I also cause the wire to be moistened with a lubricatingliquid-such as sour beer-by causing each of the earthenware rollers to dip into a trough in which ,this liquid is contained. It is of great importance that the axes on which these earthenware rollers are mounted should all be rotated at the proper relative speeds, and this I effect in the following manner: 'On a horizontal main shaft I arrange a number of driving-pulleys of various diameters, and from these pulleys I lead driving-belts, one to each of a series of intermediate axes and around a pulley of suitable dimensions thereon. There is one intermediate axis corresponding to each of the axes carrying the earthenware rollers. The latter is driven from the former by means of a pair of cone-pulleys, one to each axis, and an endless band passing around these pul- IOO leys, which is capable of being set and held in position by a belt-fork. By this means a very accurate adjustment of the relative speed of the rollers suitable to the relative sizes of the 5 jeweled holes in the dies can be made.

The rollers may be of china or glass in place of earthenware, or steel rollers may bev employed, as in other wire-drawing machines.

These arrangements are ,especially applicable to drawing fine wire of iron and steel, but may also be usefully employed in drawing wire of the lower numbers and of other metals.

In order that my said invention may be v most fully understood and readily carried into 5 effect, I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine for drawing wire, constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. Figs. 3,4, 5, and 6 are detail views of some of the parts of the machine to a larger scale. Fig. 7 shows in elevation one of the series of rollers around which the wire passes in the process of being drawn, and the lubricating devices for applying oil and acid liquor in succession to the wire, such as are employed in front of and beneath each of the rollers.

A A is the frame of the machine.

B B B are parallel horizontal axes mounted in bearings thereon.

C C C are double-flanged rollers, by preference of hard earthenware, which are mounted upon the axes B.

D D D are other horizontal axes carried in bearings on the frame A. They are driven from a main shaft, E, by means of a series vof endless belts, F F, which pass around pulleys upon the axes D D, and also around pulleys E' E' E' of various sizes upon the axis E.

Each axis B has upon it a cone-pulley, B', and each axis D also has upon Vit a similar cone-pulley, D', and an endless belt embraces the two cone-pulleys, and so the axes B and D arejcoupled in pairs. The cone-pulleys B' and D' are, except in one instance, omitted from the drawings, as to show them in every case would tend to complicate the drawings; also, in the case of each pair of pulleys B' and D there is a belt-fork, which the drawings do not show, but which may be of ordinary construction, and it is capable of being set and locked in any desired position to retain the endless driving-belt in any desired position upon the cone-pulleys.

Gr is a horizontal axis running lengthwise of the frame A. It is caused slowly to rotate in any convenient manner, as is represented in the drawings. at G', with which a worm on the vertical shaft H gears. The shaft H is driven from the main shaft E by means of pulleys and belts and an intermediate shaft, which also carries the drum on which the nished wire is wound, as the g t drawings indicate. The horizontal axis G also has upon it a seriesA of pinions, G2, and these It has upon it a worm-wheel the eye through which the wire is drawn.

These holes or eyes in the series of thimbles are progressively smaller and smaller in passing from the right to the left of the machine.

I is a reel on which is placed the comparatively-coarse wire which is to be drawn to a nner number. From this reel the wire is unwound, and as the work progresses the wire passes toward the left through the jewel in the first revolving die-holder formed by the gear H' on the right of the drawings. Then the wire is passed around the rst of the earthenware rollers C, afterward through the` next jeweled hole, and so on, in the manner already stated, until the wire reaches the farther end of the machine, and is reduced in diameter to the extent desired.

An exact adjustment of the relative speeds of the rollers C C C is necessary, and this is roughly attained' by the proportions given to the pulleys of the main shaft E, and those upon the intermediate axes, D, but the exact speeding' is effected by setting the belt-forks, which control the endless belts upon the conepulleys B D'. rIhisis done vby trial, and the forks are then locked to keep the band in its place. i

In some cases, in place of rigidly fixing the rollers C C upon the axes B B, I connect them therewith 'by means of friction -clutches, which are capable of yielding under a heavy strain a little short of that at which the wire will break, so as to permit of some movement of the rollers independently of the axes. This, rhowever, is not required if care be taken in the adjustment of the belt-forks.

I lubricate the wire with oil or similar lubricant as it comes up to each of the jeweled holes, by means of a wick, L', lying against it and `dipping down into a` small oil-cup or lamplike vessel, L, beneath. I also provide a g trough, K, in connection with each of the rollers C, and the roller dips into the trough. I 5 charge the troughs with sour beer or such like acid aqueous lubricant commonly employed IOO IIO

lin wire drawing. The lubricant is thus apl plied to the wire which is wrapped around the roller. f The roller C, of earthenware, or it may be j of china or glass, will be found much more L durable than a metallic roller, but nevertheless metallic rollers may be employed. Where the axes of the rollers C are horizontal, as the drawing indicates, (and this is the i more convenient arrangement,) it is necessary vthat the rollers should have two iianges, one on either side, to retain the wire upon them.

The use of rotating dies in wire-drawing has 1 very great practical advantages. Where fixed i dies are used, the openings, through them are liableto not only become enlarged, but to become misshapen, but on account of the movement of rotary dies they are found in practice to retain the circular shape of their openings much longer. Besides this they do better Work, making a better product With less breakage than xed dies.

As already indicated, I do not confine my invention to the use of any particular number of rotating dies, because in some kinds of wire-drawing a single rotating die may be used with advantage; nor do I confine my invention to the particular form of apparatus in detail herein described, and illustrated in the drawings, but desire it to be understood that my invention may be embodied in form in many respects different from that herein shown without departing from its substance.

Having thus described the nature of my invention and the manner of performing the same, I would have it understood that I claim- 1. In a Wire-drawing machine, the combination of a suitable roller for drawing the Wire along and a rotary die for reducing the Wire, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the series of rollers around which the wire passes, mechanism for rotating these rollers, the series of rotating dies, and their holders, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of the main shaft, its pulleys, of various sizes, the series of axes D, their pulleys driven by belt-connection with pulleys of the main shaft, the series of axes B,

the rollers thereon around which the Wire passes, the cone-pulley and belt-connections between the axes B and D, the series of rotary dies, their shaft, and the mechanism. for driving said shaft from the main shaft, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbeforeset forth.

4. In a Wire-drawing machine, the combination, with the rotary dies and drawing-rollers,

Aof cone pulleys and belts for independent regulation of the speed of rotation of each roller, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of the series of dies, the series of rollers around which the Wire passes,

with which the Wire passes in advance of the rollers, and the tanks provided with the aqueous lubricant into which the rollers dip, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

SAMUEL HENRY BYRNE. Witnesses:

J OHN DEAN,

GEO. J. B. FRANKLIN,

Both of 17 Gmccchurch Street, London, E. 0. 

